I am NOT looking for a big brew-ha-ha about Airbus vs. Boeing, but I am looking for real pilots, or reports of real pilots who have flown both types and have a preference and why? I could not find the right post to put this in, if I missed one please feel free. Thanks

One of the things I've noticed that Airbus pilots perfer about Airbuses is the tray table in the flightdeck. It seems to be a really nice addition for electronic flight bags, doing paperwork, or going over charts.

I'm not sure about the sidestick vs. yoke arguement - I've played with the sidestick in an A320 before, and it seemed really natural.

Let's see - just for background, as captain I've flown the A-319/320/321, 737-200/300, DC-8-54/61/62/63/73, F-28-4000 and E-190. As F/O only - 727-200, 757 and 767. So that pretty much covers everything from the first generation jets to the current state of the art.

From a comfort and low-workload point of view I'll take the Airbus. Love the table! It's also the most reliable airliner I've ever flown.
In almost eight years I've had only two flights cancel due to maintainance, I think that's pretty impressive. It wouldn't want to go back to the 737 if I could help it - great airplane but when I look in the cockpit it's like a DC-3, after years of flying glass.

The only thing I don't like about the Airbus is landing in a gusty crosswind, especially in the 321 - feels like you are only about halfway in control. The flight control computers have a certain lag you don't have in a conventional airplane. Even the little E-190
feels better. But you get used to it.

The joke around here is that the Airbus makes a mediocre pilot look good and a good pilot look mediocre.

I consider Airbus and Boeing to be world-class airliners. And so was Douglas.

My all-time favorite, the only airliner I can describe as a pilot's airplane (one requiring little effort on your part to look like an ace)
is the 727. Russ Farris

I have flown the DC-9/MD-80/MD-90, 727, 737, 747-400, 757, 767, L-1011, and A-320. Of the bunch my favorite is the L-1011; to answer the OP's question directly, I would always prefer to fly a FBW Airbus over anything made by Boeing. I especially hope to never have to fly the 737 again.

Quoting FX772LRF (Reply 1):Airbus pilots perfer about Airbuses is the tray table in the flightdeck. It seems to be a really nice addition for electronic flight bags, doing paperwork, or going over charts.

A NW/DL captain I know has flown 10 years on the DC-9 and 10 years on the A320. He likes the A320s routes and how the work load was low. But he says he likes the yoke a lot more, and enjoyed the "real" flying of the DC-9.

"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)